Mars On Earth: A Study Of The Qaidam Basin / Edited By : Long Xiao.

Table of Content

Preface v

About the Editor vii

About the Contributors ix

Acknowledgments xi

Chapter 1 Ways to Study Mars 1
Long Xiao
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Global Orbiting Survey 1
1.2.1 Composition 2
1.2.2 Geomorphology and topography 5
1.2.3 Interior 7
1.3 In Situ Exploration 8
1.4 Sample Return 10
1.5 Analog Study 11
1.5.1 The role of analogies 11
1.5.2 Terrestrial analogies in Martian geology 14
1.6 Martian Meteorites 15
1.7 Simulation 22
1.8 Summary 24
Acknowledgments 24
References 25
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xiv Contents

Chapter 2 The Surface of Mars: An Overview 35
Long Xiao
2.1 Introduction 35
2.2 Endogenic Geomorphology 36
2.2.1 Tectonic features 36
2.2.2 Volcanic features 40
2.3 Exogenic Geomorphology 45
2.3.1 Water-related landforms 45
2.3.2 Wind and aeolian landforms 52
2.3.3 Ice and polar deposits 55
2.3.4 Impact cratering formed landforms 56
2.3.5 Mass wasting 57
2.4 Geological History 59
2.5 Summary 61
Acknowledgments 63
References 63

Chapter 3 The Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau 71
Long Xiao, Jiang Wang, Yanan Dang,
Jiannan Zhao and Mingjie Zhang
3.1 Introduction 71
3.2 Geological Setting 73
3.2.1 Stratigraphy 73
3.2.2 Structure 78
3.2.3 Geological history 81
3.3 Geographical and Geomorphological Features 82
3.3.1 Surrounding mountain ranges 82
3.3.2 Inside the basin 86
3.3.3 Water system and lakes 87
3.3.4 Playas and polygonal landforms 90
3.4 Wind Erosion and Aeolian Landform 93
3.4.1 Macroscale wind erosion features: Yardangs 94
3.4.2 Meso-micro-scale wind erosional features:
Ventifacts and Tafoni 96
3.4.3 Sand Dunes 101
3.5 Plants in Deserts 102
3.6 Climate Environment 105
Acknowledgments 106
References 106
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Contents xv

Chapter 4 Lakes 111
Jiannan Zhao and Ting Huang
4.1 Introduction 111
4.2 Paleolakes on Mars 112
4.2.1 Classification and distribution of Martian paleolakes 113
4.2.2 Martian paleolake morphology 116
4.2.3 Mineralogy of lake deposits 119
4.2.4 Age of Martian paleolakes 121
4.2.5 Origin of Martian paleolakes 122
4.3 Lakes and Playas in the Qaidam Basin 123
4.3.1 Lakes in the Qaidam Basin 124
4.3.2 Playas in the Qaidam Basin 137
4.4 Summary 145
Acknowledgments 147
References 148

Chapter 5 Aeolian Landforms 157
Jiang Wang, Jun Huang and Long Xiao
5.1 Introduction 157
5.2 Yardangs 158
5.2.1 Yardangs on Mars 158
5.2.2 Yardangs in the Qaidam Basin 164
5.2.3 Evolution of yardangs in the Qaidam Basin 171
5.2.4 Control factors of yardang morphology 175
5.3 Dunes 183
5.3.1 Dunes on Mars 183
5.3.2 Dunes in the Qaidam Basin 188
5.4 Summary 192
Acknowledgments 193
References 193

Chapter 6 Polygons 199
Yanan Dang, Long Xiao, and Yi Xu
6.1 Introduction 199
6.1.1 Thermal contraction polygon 200
6.1.2 Desiccation (Shrinkage) crack polygon 201
6.1.3 Lava polygon 201
6.1.4 Salt polygon 203
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xvi Contents
6.2 Polygonal Terrains on Mars 203
6.2.1 Distribution of salt polygons on Mars 206
6.2.2 Morphology of salt polygons on Mars 207
6.3 Polygonal Ground in the Qaidam Basin 212
6.3.1 Distribution of polygons in the Qaidam Basin 214
6.3.2 Morphology of salt polygons in the Qaidam Basin 214
6.3.3 Formation and evolution of salt polygons in the
Qaidam Basin 217
6.4 Comparison of Salt Polygons in the Qaidam Basin and
on Mars 224
6.4.1 Morphological observations 224
6.4.2 Clues for depositional environments on Mars 233
6.5 Implications for Martian Environmental and Climatic
Change 234
6.5.1 Implications for climate change 234
6.5.2 Hydrology of lacustrine/playa environments on Mars
and its implications for polygons formation 235
6.6 Summary 238
Acknowledgments 239
References 239

Chapter 7 Valleys 249
Jiannan Zhao, Yutong Shi, and Long Xiao
7.1 Introduction 249
7.2 Valleys

Chapter 8 Gullies 275
Yutong Shi, Jiannan Zhao and Jiang Wang
8.1 Introduction 275
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Contents xvii
8.2 Gullies on Mars 276
8.2.1 Global distribution of Martian gullies 276
8.2.2 Martian gully morphology 278
8.2.3 Origin of Martian gullies 281
8.3 Gullies in the Qaidam Basin 284
8.3.1 Distribution and morphology of gullies in the
Qaidam Basin 284
8.3.2 Origin of gullies in the Qaidam Basin 285
8.4 Summary 289
Acknowledgments 289
References 289

Chapter 9 Habitability and Astrobiological Significances 293
Ting Huang, Ziye Cheng, and Long Xiao
9.1 Introduction 293
9.2 Water on Mars 294
9.3 Organic Compounds Found on Mars 297
9.3.1 Organics in Martian meteorites 297
9.3.2 Organics detected by Mars missions 298
9.3.3 Methane in Mars atmosphere 300
9.4 Habitability Assessment of Mars Analog Sites 301
9.5 The Habitability of the Qaidam Basin 303
9.5.1 Microorganism studies of saline lakes and
evaporative sediments in the Qaidam Basin 303
9.5.2 Lipids recovered from evaporites of the
Qaidam Basin 311
9.6 The Astrobiological Implications from the Qaidam Basin 315
9.7 Summary 318
Acknowledgments 319
References 319

Index 329